As the US Senate weighs and debates it 2,074 health care “reform” bill let’s take a brief look at how the Medicare and Medicaid “scoreboard” look right now.  California Health Insurance and the Obama Care legislation will affect how these plans move forward.  According to FEDERAL statistic fraud devours some 60 billion (that’s right billion) or 13.3 percent or Medicare’s $452 billion dollar budget.  One thief told Steve Kroft “60 Minutes” that he personally robbed 60 million dollars and he could have easily took 100 million.  He was quoted as saying it was “really easy” to steal patient names, doctors name and just start billing the Federal government for fictitious services and devises.  If you think health insurance is expensive now-wait until it’s free and the thieves get their claws into the new program.

Medicare failed to investigate frauds and in many cases where the members (who received their explanation of coverage and never received the services or devises) called Medicare and reported the fraud.  Additionally, Medicare continues to be one of the slowest “payees”-according to the Athena Health Payers View report.  North Carolina is the fastest state at 40 days.  Among the top payees it ranks 8th and in some states takes 77-89 days to pay providers.

Additionally, Medicare also ranked among the highest payees in rejecting claims.  In California Health Insurance Medicare and Medicaid rejected 19.5% while NY rejected 34% and Florida 38%.

Last year even the Post Office lost 2.5 billion dollars.

Folks as the 2000 page healthcare bill makes it’s way through the Senate we need to be aware that if this bill passes it will be more costly than budgeted, will be filled with administrativered-tape, be stifled with delays and problems and surely have a tremendous amount of waste and fraud.

Why do I say this?  Because the government can’t run their existing programs efficiently and on budget.

Your comments are appreciated.